HOME FOR AGED VISIT

Cooperative greetings!

We never really grow old until we have with ourselves the oldies – that’s the inert feeling of some MSU-IT NMPC officers and staff as the coop head-starts its year visiting Iligan City’s Home for the Aged at Barangay Canaway last January 11, 2014.

The rainy season did not barge the collaboration among the Cooperative Social Responsibility Committee (CSR), the Marketing Department, and several Branch Managers to give smiles and joy to the elderly residents. Early in the cold morning, the warmth of the ever youthful lolos and lolas’ smiles of greetings made it a little less uptight to the team as we arrive at their home.

We have prepared a program for our lolos and lolas as the day progressed. Keeping it more solemn, Mrs. Charisma A. Lugatiman (Poblacion Branch Manager) led the prayer for our Creator’s guidance. Yet again, the smiles went back as the delighted lolos and lolas are all excited to see some talents. That’s right; we’ll never leave the stage empty! Sgt. Alvin D. Banawan sang us his very own composition – it nearly made us in awe that one of our guardsmen has a lot inside his sleeves!

As everybody settled down from the gush of music, our very own Dir. Niña Flor B. Batara gave a short but heartfelt message to our elderly. The message is clear as it says “We are eager to reach your age as you have already done what we haven’t.”

What came after the solemnity of the program are more fun and more exposure of talents. Aldrin sang a more relatable song entitled “I Wanna Grow Old With You” and a meaningful ballad entitled “Kanlungan” with the guitar. Sgt. Alvin has also his own fingers running along the fret lines with his own song “Mahal Nila Ang Simbahan”. Of course, the residents themselves aren’t just going to sit around and enjoy the show – they themselves plunge in to the stage to perform! Lola Teresita, an 80’s classic over, gave her best with a pitch-perfect performance, leaving us jaw-dropped for a moment. Lola Bating, the oldest, shows child-like gaze as she sang “Leron-Leron Sinta”. Vocal chords were not only pumped up but knees and joints were moved as Marlon Oceña of Suarez-Tominobo Branch led a dance routine to which not only the employees danced on but some of lolas also. These and more made the visit experience timeless.

The team then served foods for everyone to recharge. Laughs and short talks were shared along with the hot arrozcaldo, champorado and canton.

After all the mirthful air, it’s time to bid the elderly farewell. Hands held high, and with the spirit of thanks to the lolos and lolas for making us realize how life can be so blessed, the MSU-IIT NMPC team stood and sang with a grateful heart the song “Hawak Kamay”. The visit may have been short-lived but the experience is already engraved within us.